Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente

Baseball Player/Humanitarian

August 18, 1934-December 31, 1972

Age 38

Manner of Demise-Plane Crash

Born in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 17. Then, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for 18 years, his entire major league career.

Throughout the 1960’s, Roberto was one of baseball’s premier players. A right fielder, Roberto was awarded four National League batting titles, and also earned 12 consecutive Golden Glove awards. He helped his club win the World Series twice, getting a hit in every game of the series in both 1960 and 1971. Roberto was voted baseball’s MVP in 1966, and the World Series MVP in 1971. A twelve time All-Star, Roberto was also one of the few major league baseball players to have over 3000 hits.

Roberto was proud of his Puerto Rican heritage, and very active in various humanitarian causes.

Disappointed that much of the relief intended for an earthquake ravaged Nicaragua never arrived, Roberto decided to personally oversee the distribution of aide. On December 31, 1972, Roberto and four others loaded a DC-7 with food and medical supplies. In spite of warnings from his wife, the plane left in stormy weather, and almost immediately crashed off the shore of Puerto Rico. Roberto’s body was never recovered and all on board were presumed dead.

In 1973, baseball writers waived the normal five year waiting period and inducted Roberto into the Hall of Fame. He is the first Hispanic to receive that honor, and was also the second baseball player to be on a US postage stamp. Major League Baseball also created the “Roberto Clemente Award” for baseball players active in humanitarian causes.